Rep. Block Dem. Effort To Protect Senior Services

Senate Republicans recently blocked a proposal by Democrats to protect the Meals-on-Wheels program and senior center services in New York City, by voting against allowing the measure to go to the floor for debate or a vote.

The measure, sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith and co-sponsored by Senator Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) was introduced as a hostile amendment to a Senate Republican Bill by Senator Martin Golden, (R-Brooklyn). The Democratic measure would have delayed the implementation of New York City Department of the Aging's so-called "restructuring" of senior services, including Meals-on-Wheels.

Instead of allowing any discussion or debate on the amendment, the Senate Republicans used a procedural maneuver to block consideration and quickly voted to close debate on the matter. New York City Senators who voted to block the amendment were Senators Martin Golden, Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island), Frank Padavan (R-Queens) and Serphin Maltese